Body Composition Changes in Young Women with High Resistance Weight Training

Abstract

Abstract We evaluated the effects of high resistance weight training on the body composition of 17 college women. Anthropometric dimensions were assessed by duplicate pre- and posttraining measures of total body potassium (whole body 40K scintillation), 7 skinfold thicknesses, 8 muscular girths, and 4 skeletal diameters. The subjects underwent a comprehensive weight training program for 40 min/session, 3 days/wk, for 9 wk. Significant increases in total body potassium, lean body mass, flexed biceps and forearm girths, and shoulder width resulted from the weight training. Relative fat and chest depth were significantly decreased by the weight training program while skinfold thicknesses and body weight were unaffected. Over the 9-wk training period, a sedentary control group (N = 10) showed no significant changes in any of the parameters measured. The concurrence of our results with those of a recent California study substantiates the contention that high resistance weight training can enhance feminine body composition without concomitant masculinizing effects or marked changes in body weight.